[Benandbill]

How do you know when they are ready to pull up?  The leaves seem to have grown big on ours now, but they haven’t died back or changed colour or anything, they‘re still bright green.  Also, you cannot see the top of the root like you could with our carrots when they were pulled up.

What are the telltale signs - if any - of parsnips being ready to pull up?

[JayG]

Nothing dramatic happens, although the foliage will eventually be killed by frost, and you will have read many times that the flavour of parsnips is improved by frost. There's nothing to stop you scraping a little soil away from the tops of the parsnips for a sneak preview though! 

[DD.]

If you can pull up a parsnip, it will not have been worth growing! 

[Benandbill]

DD, I'm guessing by this they need to be dug up with a fork rather than pulled?  ... or..  Do you mean it's far too early to be pulling up parsnips?

I'm really looking forward to tasting them, if they're half a parsnipy as my carrots are carroty, then we're in for a real treat!!   

[Goosegirl]

A fork will help though keep the tines well away from the roots. If you can't wait, try a couple in late Sept, though I would wait until the frosts as they are so much sweeter then because it turns the starch into sugar.

[gazza975526570]

i pulled some yesterday - had some in a stew and they where ok but also had some roasted - man alive they where good!! Gonna leave the rest now till after the frosts - temptation got the better of me and they where already huge!!!

[DD.]

I mean that if you can pull them up, there's not much on them!

But, yes, I'd also leave them longer than give into temptation, is really is worth waiting for the starch to turn to sugar.

[sunshineband]

I have so few this year that I am not going to use any until after the first frosts and make sure I save some for Christmas too 

[Growster...]

...And even if they're forked a bit, the 'fingers' are delicious too...!

[sunshineband]

...And even if they're forked a bit, the 'fingers' are delicious too...!

They make great soup 

[Growster...]

They do indeed KC! And with soup, it doesn't matter a hoot what they look like before they go in the pot!

(OT, I liquidised several pounds of toms for the freezer today, skins and all - straight from the plant.

They're great for soups etc each winter, and taste much better than any others in tins etc...)

[sunshineband]

(Quick hijack - sorry guys)

Did you just blitz the tomatoes and freeze as mush, Growster?

[Growster...]

Yup KC, we always do - have done for years!

It beats all this de-skinning etc, and also, you get the crunchy skin in tiny pieces just when you thought summer was light years away...

Just cut them into chinks, add a tiny drop of water to make sure the blades touch something in the machine and away you go!

We sometimes keep a half pint in the fridge for a quick smoothie as well...

[sunshineband]

Thank you ---now no prizes for guessing what I shall be doing tomorrow, other than blanching and freezing runner beans of course 


(Might need a bigger freezer)

[gazza975526570]

(Might need a bigger freezer)

I think there is no doubting here - thats already with a spare one in the garage - think i will be eating frozen runner beans until late summer 2012!!!